If you had been alive a hundred years ago,
       and went for a summer's walk In the
       countryside, you would have expected
       to see many, if not actual clouds of
       butterflies. Today, their  numbers  
       have seriously
       declined and over the last century 
       five species have become extinct.

       The future of nearly half our 55
       remaining species hangs in the
       balance.

       The pressures of modern society, in addition to reducing the area of
       countryside left,have led to changes in its usage and management to
       the detriment of wildlife, especially butterflies. The demand for
       increased food production has meant widespread destruction of
       flower-rich meadows, hedgerows, copses and wild corners - all
       these were ideal butterfly habitats. Owing to economic pressures most
       of our previously managed deciduous woodlands, home to many of our
       more sensitive butterflies, have either been neglected or replaced
       with butterfly-unfriendly conifer plantations. 


       It is impossible to turn back the clock but much can be done to 
       increase the numbers of the commoner species and protect the rarer
       species from extinction. This is the aim of Butterfly Conservation,
       but we need your help to achieve it. 

       Butterfly Conservation was founded in 1968 with the aim of saving
       wild butterflies and moths, and their habitats. By joining Butterfly
       Conservation you will be giving both moral and financial support to
       help reverse the decline of our butterfly heritage and countryside.
       If you want to become more actively involved, or have a special
       interest in a particular area, you can join one or more of the many
       local Branches listed on these pages.
 
 


       Butterfly Conservation works to safeguard the
        future of our butterflies by: 


       * creating and managing  reserves - for example Catfield Fen in      
         Norfolk which is 

         home to the rare British Swallowtail 

       * advising landowners on butterfly     
         conservation 

       * learning more about our butterflies 
         and moths and their requirements by
         monitoring and research 

       * carrying out conservation work to
         maintain and restore habitats on
         land where the owners are
         sympathetic 

       * lobbying National and Local overnment, the European Commission
         and other institutions 

       * re-establishing species  (after careful study and  preparation)
         in areas where they have been lost.
         - we plan to return the Chequered Skipper to woods in England
         where it was last seen over 20 years ago. Co-operating with
         other environmental groups. 

       * promoting butterfly-friendly gardening 


       Membership form for butterfly Conservation   
       
 
       
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